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JW Marriott Hotels and Resorts’ flagship property in Vietnam, the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, opened its doors recently marking what Marriott claims is the first international luxury hotel brand on Phu Quoc island.

Designed by Bangkok-based architect Bill Bensley – called “the king of exotic luxury resorts” in Time magazine’s The Design 100 list – the property features 243 rooms, suites, apartments and villas. Room sizes start at 54 square metres.

Meanwhile three restaurants are available on-site, ranging from a combination Vietnamese, Japanese and French beachside seafood grill to chemistry-themed cocktail bar. Cantonese restaurant Pink Pearl, however, is the hotel’s main restaurant and is located in a beachfront mansion. Corporate groups staying at the resort can also make use of the hotel’s 1,100 square metres of meeting space, including a 715-square-metre grand ballroom.

Leisure options also include retail along the Rue de Lamarck offering local crafts and artisanal boutiques. Cultural events and daily rituals are also scheduled at the Rue de Lamarck, whereas fitness and wellness enthusiasts can head to the outdoor pools, beach or Spa by JW for a bit of light R&R.

JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach is set to open its doors next week on December 15, the first property JW Marriott Hotels and Resorts has opened in the city-state.

Offering a total of 634 rooms, the new hotel has been designed in collaboration with renowned French designer, Philippe Starck, with the designers signature furnishings adorning the guest rooms. Each room will also come equipped with an IPTV entertainment system, high-speed fibre optic internet connectivity, up to seven USB sockets and a mobile wifi phone that functions anywhere within the property.

A total of 587 rooms and 47 suites will be available, with female travellers also able to select rooms on the ladies’ floor, which offers additional amenities including a manicure and pedicure set, facial steamer, hair straightener and a “boyfriend shirt”.

Meanwhile, a significant number of F&B options will be available, with the hotel opening with five restaurants and bars. These include: Akira Back, a modern Japanese and Korean restaurant from the celebrity chef of the same name; all-day dining restaurant Beach Road Kitchen; the Court Martial Bar; gastropub Media Bar; and Tonic, a bar specialising in gins. A further four F&B outlets will be unveiled in 2017.

Speaking about the opening, Derek Flint the hotel’s general manager, said: “We are thrilled to welcome discerning travellers to this design-led landmark in the hub of Singapore’s art and culture district. JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach looks forward to enriching guests with a truly luxurious experience and showcasing the warm, intuitive service that is synonymous with the JW Marriott brand globally.”

Located close to the Marina Bay entertainment and business district, the new JW Marriott will open with a variety of facilities designed to cater to business and leisure travellers.

A total of 1,771 sqm of events and meeting space will be available for corporate groups, including a 520-sqm grand ballroom located in the hotel’s Drill Hall, a 1930s heritage space with interiors, also designed by Starck. Starck is behind the ballroom’s Forest of Lights installation, which is made up of 11,520 lights. The ballroom also features an in-built 15-by-10-metre LED wall and cutting-edge AV systems.

Meanwhile on the leisure and lifestyle side, the new JW Marriott offers a “Max!” kids programme, while a Concierge Library social space hosted by the hotel’s concierge enables guests to explore the city. An Activity Table will also be set up in the hotel lobby offering authentic cultural experiences including wine and cheese tastings and coffee experiences, while hotel heritage tours are also available.

While the new property will not have an operational spa upon opening, a Spa by JW is set to open in Q2 of 2017, providing curated wellness treatments for guests. An infinity pool, sky garden and 24-hour fitness centre will also be available at Flow18.

Drone enthusiasts will be able to try their hand at flying DJI’s drone technology when they stay with JW Marriott, thanks to a new partnership between the hotel group and DJI. The Drone Experience Program, which debuts at the JW Marriott Zhejiang Anji on November 12, will enable guests to fly drones and get panoramic, aerial views of JW Marriott’s properties.

Representatives from DJI will run on-site experience sessions for guests using the company’s latest offerings, such as the DJI Phantom 4, showing how the machines are operated, along with offering aerial photography tips. The programme is held once a week on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm, with guests able to book in advance with the hotel concierge for a 30-minute slot.

“Anji is a fantastic destination to pilot this cutting-edge technology and the programme will help guests both learn something new and share their experiences with friends and family,” said Mike Fulkerson, vice president of brand marketing, Asia Pacifc for Marriott International.

Typically, DJI customers can make use of the DJI Go app to share videos on social media either through Facebook’s live-stream service or Youtube. For the JW Marriott Zhejiang Anji experience, users can upload through social media site Weibo.

“DJI’s aerial platforms and camera technology will allow travellers creative means of capturing and sharing their travel experience with the rest of the world,” said DJI’s business development manager, Eli Morgan Harris. “The combined geographic footprints of DJI and the JW Marriott brand will enable us to debut the programme in some of the world’s most desirable destinations.”

The hotel group hasn’t yet confirmed when and where the programme may be extended to next.

Marriott International’s debut JW Marriott hotel in Chengdu has opened, located next to Tianfu Square and the Kuan and Zhai Alleys in the city centre. The new JW Marriott Chengdu brings 345 rooms to the city’s hospitality space, comprising 298 rooms, 47 suites and an executive lounge.

Much like the property’s cultural surrounds, the new JW Marriott Chengdu has characteristics and facilities that sport a distinct traditional Chinese aspect. The design of the property has been modelled after traditional motifs and craftsmanship with handcrafted artworks and textiles, while its signature Cantonese and Sichuanese restaurant, Man Ho, has a design inspired by Cantonese Opera.

“We are proud to welcome guests to experience this historic and ever-growing community,” said the hotel’s general manager, Khan Sung. “JW Marriott Chengdu promises to provide guests with truly enriching fulfilling experiences, enhanced with the intuitive and thoughtful service that the luxury brand is known for.”

Alongside Man Ho, the JW Marriott will offer three other dining venues; an all-day international buffet and a la carte restaurant, a bakery and a lounge for cocktails and pre-dinner drinks. Health and fitness facilities include a spa, an indoor heated swimming pool and a fitness centre, while its events space includes more than 1,800 sqm of multi-functional events space.

The new Chengdu hotel is JW Marriott’s 13th China property and its first property in the Chinese city. The opening follows an announcement earlier this year that the brand will be expanding in Asia-Pacific with its Japan debut in spring 2020 with the JW Marriott Hotel Nara, along with plans by Marriott International to bring a further seven hotels online in China in the coming years..

Rang Mahal by Atul Kochar has curated a five-course, special Diwali feast. It has been designed by award-winning chef, Amrish Sood, who oversees activities at the restaurant.

Atul Kochar is an internationally acclaimed chef and the man behind the Michelin star restaurant Benares in London.

The meal will be on Rang Mahal’s menu from October 23 to November 4, between 6pm and 10pm. It will open with India’s street food such as chaat from Delhi and farsaan from Gujarat; seafood will be served in clay plates, the same material used to mould the lamps lit during the festival; kebabs will be presented in a dramatic show of lights for the third course; an array of dishes will make up the mains to emulate a family feast; the last course will be a colourful display of Indian dessert varieties.

Kitchen6 is the other restaurant, open round the clock at JW MArriott Marquis. Its international buffet will include a selection of rich Indian dishes, accompanied by live entertainment at the venue. (October 23-30; 7pm-11pm).

Rang Mahal by Atul Kochar has curated a five-course, special Diwali feast. It has been designed by award-winning chef, Amrish Sood, who oversees activities at the restaurant.

Atul Kochar is an internationally acclaimed chef and the man behind the Michelin star restaurant Benares in London.

The meal will be on Rang Mahal’s menu from October 23 to November 4, between 6pm and 10pm. It will open with India’s street food such as chaat from Delhi and farsaan from Gujarat; seafood will be served in clay plates, the same material used to mould the lamps lit during the festival; kebabs will be presented in a dramatic show of lights for the third course; an array of dishes will make up the mains to emulate a family feast; the last course will be a colourful display of Indian dessert varieties.

Kitchen6 is the other restaurant, open round the clock at JW MArriott Marquis. Its international buffet will include a selection of rich Indian dishes, accompanied by live entertainment at the venue. (October 23-30; 7pm-11pm).